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Syrian refugees in Lebanon: IRC exploring humanitarian needs

Syrian refugees walk with their belongings on the Lebanese side of the border with Syria. A recent upsurge in violence in Syria prompted tens of thousands of Syrians to flee in just two days. Photo: REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir, courtesy Alertnet - Trust.org

NEW YORK -

Already at work supporting Syrian refugees in Jordan, the International Rescue Committee is exploring needs for the growing refugee population in Lebanon.

Following a spike in violence in the Syrian capital of Damascus and ancient commercial hub and largest city Aleppo during the last two weeks, the United Nations refugee agency says in just two days up to 30,000 refugees poured through a single border crossing into Lebanon. Leading Lebanese humanitarian agencies now estimate the number of refugees there to be approaching 100,000, and say they are overwhelmed.

In the coming days, members of the IRC's Emergency Response Team will conduct an emergency needs assessment in Lebanon, focusing particularly on the requirements of refugee women and girls. Women and girls are particularly at risk in Syria; two recent IRC assessments conducted in Jordan found that they have been deliberately targeted in the violence.

The team members will most likely center on eastern Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, where the majority of the most recent refugee arrivals have settled. The results of their emergency assessment will be used to determine how best the IRC might respond to refugee needs in Lebanon.